Trump was the target of an apparent 'assassination attempt', according to the FBI

Former President Donald Trump is safe after shots were fired at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, while Trump was golfing there Sunday afternoon.

A suspect, identified by local authorities as Ryan Wesley Routh, is in custody.

The FBI said it was investigating the shooting as an assassination attempt — making it the second time a gunman has targeted Trump in just two months.

In July, the Republican presidential candidate was shot and wounded at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

What we know about the incident

At a news conference Sunday, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the Secret Service alerted local authorities to multiple gunshots on the course around 1:30 p.m. ET.

According to Bradshaw, a Secret Service agent standing a hole in front of Trump spotted an AK-style rifle sticking out of a fence at the golf course. The agent “immediately engaged” the person holding the rifle. That’s when the gunman fled in a black Nissan. A Secret Service spokesperson said the agents opened fire on the individual.

Bradshaw said the suspect was about 300 to 500 yards from Trump. “With a rifle and a scope like that, that’s not a long distance,” he said. He added that the suspect left behind two backpacks and a GoPro camera.

Bradshaw said a witness was able to provide authorities with the model and license plate of the suspect's car. Officers later located Routh on Interstate 95.

Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder told WPLG that the suspect was “relatively calm” when he was arrested. “He didn’t show a lot of emotion. He never asked, ‘What is this about?’” Snyder added.

Trump “safe and sound”

In an email sent by his campaign, Trump wrote: “There have been shots fired in my neighborhood, but before the rumors start getting out of hand, I first wanted you to hear this: I AM SAFE AND HEALTHY!”

Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (Ohio), said he spoke to Trump after the shooting. “I am glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news broke and he was, surprisingly, in good spirits,” he wrote on X.

Local authorities said that if the president were in office, the golf course would have been completely surrounded. But for a presidential candidate, there were only a few Secret Service agents with him and the bushes surrounding the golf course made detection more difficult.

“The threat level is high,” Rafael Barros, special agent in charge of the Miami office, told reporters, adding that “we have increased the number of resources.” “We live in dangerous times,” he added.

Biden and Harris express relief

The White House said President Biden and Vice President Harris have also been briefed on the security incident at the Trump International Golf Course.

“They are relieved to know that he is safe and sound. They will be regularly updated by their team,” the statement said. Attorney General Merrick Garland has also been updated and is monitoring the situation closely, his office said.

The Secret Service also briefed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on the incident, and he commended the Secret Service for its quick work.

“There is no place in this country for political violence of any kind. The perpetrator must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he said in a statement.

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